Author Archives: TaxMama

IRS – Issue Management Resolution System – Turning Issues into Answers

Courtesy of the Internal Revenue Service [TaxMama Note: This is an opportunity for you to see some of the ways IRS responds to requests to fix or improve things. I say, just some of the ways, because I know of many more fixes IRS has implemented in the last several months. As, they say, it […]

Prepare for Hurricanes, Disasters by Safeguarding Tax Records

Courtesy of the Internal Revenue Service IRS YouTube Videos Preparing for Disasters: English | Spanish | ASL How to Request a Copy of Your Tax Return: English | Spanish | ASL Podcast  –  Disaster Assistance: English | Spanish WASHINGTON — With the early start of this year’s hurricane season, the Internal Revenue Service encourages individuals […]

Assess First, Shoot Later

Green Garden Grass snakes can be dangerous. Yes, grass snakes — not rattlesnakes. A couple in Sweetwater, Texas had a lot of potted plants, and during a recent cold spell, the wife was bringing a lot of them indoors to protect them from a possible freeze. It turned out that a little green garden grass […]

Income Not Reported

Today TaxMama® hears from Ninja in the TaxQuips Forum who got an IRS notice. Since her problem is universal, let me generalize her situation.  “This is the time of year IRS starts sending out the CP2000 notices. These letters are computer-generated. The IRS computer compares your income to the information it has received from W-2s, […]

Claiming My Investments

Today TaxMama® hears from Jeff in the TaxQuips Forum who is becoming an investor.  “Last year I invested in $20k a business & $5k this year. In return I have a 25% share of the LLC. I did not claim any of it on this year’s tax return. Can I? And how do I claim […]

Paying Extra Social Security

Today TaxMama® hears from Stephen in the TaxQuips Forum who has a sensible (though late) question.  “In the current economy, raises are hard to come by. I haven’t had a raise in several years. I am 64 1/2 planning on a full retirement at age 66. Can I volunteer to pay more into Social Security […]

EIC Credit and Nonresidents

[Note: This answer is totally incorrect. See the comments below the answer.] Today TaxMama® hears from Reginald in the TaxQuips Forum who has this question.  “Is the Earned Income Credit available to a US citizen couple, married filing a joint return, who live out of the country? They do have qualifying children. The only reference […]

TIGTA Finds No Violations of Fair Tax Collection Practices By IRS Staff

Courtesy of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) did not close any cases in Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 involving abuse or harassment of taxpayers by IRS employees while they attempted to collect taxes, concludes a report publicly released today by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration […]

Employers Need to Act Soon to Get Expanded Credit for Hiring Vets

Courtesy of the Internal Revenue Service Employers that hired unemployed veterans during late 2011 and early 2012 had an expanded period to request the required certification for claiming the expanded Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). That expanded period ends on Tuesday, June 19. The IRS is reminding employers that for eligible veterans hired on or […]

Simplifying English

The European Commission was considering an agreement whereby English will become the official language of the EU rather than German, which was the alternative possibility.* As part of the negotiations, Her Majesty’s Government has conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement, and has accepted a 5 year phase-in plan that would be known […]

Effective vs Actual Tax Rate

Today TaxMama® hears from KD in the TaxQuips Forum who is justifiably confused.  “I was looking over our tax return and was wondering why we are paying almost 50% effective tax rates on our income. I’m currently unemployed and my husband is an independent contractor. Our CPA included a chart with this year’s tax return. […]